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Thursday, July 9th, 2009
(1 comment | comment on this) Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
skeets
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3:32p
Musicality
In a moment of whimsy, I secured an audition slot for an upcoming musical theatre production that I saw advertised on Craigslist. I haven't auditioned for a theatre production in probably ten YEARS, and it's been longer than that for anything in musical theatre.
It sounds like a truckload of fun, but I can't help feeling a little bit insane for entertaining this notion. I always liked doing theatre, though, and it's one of those things that I did, but never really did to my fullest potential. I was too self-conscious and clumsy-feeling in high school and early college to do myself justice as a performer.
Nowadays? I'm somewhat less self-conscious, and certainly less clumsy, and I also know that I can belt out one hell of a tune. Maybe I can actually let go enough to *enjoy* this experience, and maybe even get a part in the show.
Anyhoo, I have a month or so to pick out a song, and lose my vacation weight, so there's no reason to stress yet.
Speaking of the vacation weight... ugh, don't get me started. It seems ridiculous that I could've gained that much weight in only two weeks, and it makes me balk at the notion of calling back LA Fitness to check in about a position. I don't feel completely gross, or anything--I'm no worse off than I was before I started 30-Day Shred--and being home is making me feel better, as I re-hydrate and de-bloat.
But, before I left, I actually felt like I was getting to be a really, visibly fit person, whom you might even identify as a trainer just by appearance. Now I feel I'm back to my old, slightly-flabby, almost-but-not-quite state, and it's frustrating as hell. I also had to give Making The Cut back to the library, so I have to wait in the queue to check out the book again, before I can restart the program. Still, I do have to pick myself up and dust myself off, even in these less-than-ideal circumstances. I'm eating decently again, and guzzling water like a crazy person, and I have Shred to fall back on while I wait for MTC, so hopefully things will get better soon.
For now, I think I'd settle for clear sinuses, no coughing, and a decent night's sleep. Bleck. :p
current mood:  frustrated
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(8 comments | comment on this)
skeets
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11:44a
Hitting the ground running
Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm having to do.
Got some photo selections from clients sent to me while I was gone, so I have to process those ASAP. Also have two weddings to prep for this weekend; I have to do the final consultation meeting with one of them after work tonight.
Fortunately, the catalog shoot is postponed for a week or two, because they hit a snag and their product won't be shoot-ready by tomorrow. All I can say is, thank GOD, because after paging through 60+ e-mails here at The Job, I don't think I could deal with much more than I already have on my plate right now.
And, for some stupid reason, I woke up at 6:30am this morning and couldn't fall back asleep. So, that makes 5 hours of sleep I'm running on today. Woooo yea. :p
On a better note, the swelling in my eyes went down yesterday, and I started feeling okay enough that I did go to practice. It was tough, but I'm glad I went. Boy decided to keep the evening simple, so we grilled some chicken, and kicked it on the deck with Andy for most of the evening. I also picked him up some reallygood dark chocolate at Trader Joe's, because he loves that stuff. :)
Speaking of the deck, I should take pictures of it soon. Boy and the contractor guy we're work-trading with completed the rebuild of the deck while I was gone, and it's really awesome. And 100% stable! AND we re-used the good wood from the old deck and still have plenty left over. Contractor guy is smart that way. :) I'm definitely looking forward to enjoying more warm summer evenings out there.
Sorry for all the whining and non-responsiveness as of late; I'm barely making it through the day so far. I hope that changes starting tomorrow.
current mood:  exhausted
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(comment on this) Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
skeets
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4:08p
NO I will NOT smile for you. Ass.
There have been a few separate times when I've been walking the streets, usually in the morning, on my way to get a coffee before work. I haven't been in a bad mood at all, generally... tired and not fully awake yet, perhaps, but not in poor spirits.
And then, some random douche on the street gets my attention, and says, "SMILE!" And that act basically puts me in a bad mood.
I have several problems with this whole commanding people to smile thing:
1) If you don't know me, how can you possibly know what state of mind I'm in? I wasn't in a bad mood at all, and I was actually better off *before* the person spoke to me. So, in effect, they've made my day worse through their act.
2) If you don't know me, then you also don't know what circumstances I'm under. Maybe I'm feeling really sick and still have to do errands, as I was when this occurred today. Maybe someone very close to me passed away yesterday. Maybe I've just learned that I have only 6 weeks to live. Maybe I simply found a fly in my morning oatmeal. If I *am* in a bad mood, you don't know the reason WHY, and there are some circumstances where you can't tell a person to smile without coming off like a complete asshat.
3) If I am just being a grumpwad on a given occasion, who are you to tell me not to be? I'm a human being, and I have a right to do with my emotions as I see fit. It's as though, by telling me to smile, these people are saying that I'm not allowed to show that I'm angry, or sad, or whatever negative emotion I might be experiencing. Who has the right to impose that upon others?
Yeah, yeah, I know what you're going to say: that guy's just trying to make you feel better, make you see that things aren't so bad, etc., blah blah fishcakes. I call bullshit on that. If someone truly wants to lighten my load, they'll listen to my problems, offer sympathy, offer cupcakes, or even just say something funny that'll elicit a genuine smile.
But, simply being commanded to smile by a complete stranger? That is pretty much guaranteed to NOT help me in any way. Kthxbye.
------
Anyhoo, yes, I'm feeling bad enough today to admit that I'm sick. I slept for 14 hours, my sinuses are still gunked to hell, and my right eye is now puffed up something terrible. (both eyes, actually, but the right moreso than the left) This blooooowwwws.
I also want to go to wushu tonight, and do something, anything for Boy's birthday (which is today), but I don't think I'm up to either one of those things. :/ At least Boy isn't one to make a big deal about birthdays, so I think he'll understand. But damnit, I want to traaaaain. Grrrr.
current mood:  annoyed
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(6 comments | comment on this) Monday, July 6th, 2009
skeets
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6:13p
Stateside
I'm back, at last. I brought back a cool calligraphy painting, and some amaaazing tea which I'll hopefully get to share with at least some of you soon.
I brought back a headcold from people in my travel group--I think at least 1/3rd of us had the gunk at some point or another. That's what we get for eating so many meals family-style, I guess.
I also brought back some bad toilet mojo, because I managed to clog the toilet within an hour of getting home. ::eyeroll::
But! Boy is home, which I wasn't expecting, because I thought he'd be on a sailing trip, but apparently he went on an earlier one instead. It was a nice surprise having him meet me at the airport, instead of Andy :)
I'm beat, so I'll hit y'all later. :)
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(5 comments | comment on this) Saturday, July 4th, 2009
skeets
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6:46p
Last chance for INTERNETS
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) bloodred37 made me realize that I forgot to mention here that I resolved the travel blogging issue! If you want to catch up, here it is. (I just did my own Wordpress install from the hotel in Beijing, heh)
We're wrapping things up here in Tai'an, and taking an overnight train to Beijing tonight, so we can catch our flight tomorrow from there back to the States. So, the next time I'm on the internet, it'll be from my own room at home! <3
I've had some cool times, but I can't wait to be back... even if I do have two weddings, and now a catalog shoot in addition, waiting to bury me within a week of my return. ;p I'm glad I scheduled an extra day off from work, so I can get myself readjusted before diving back into the fray.
Seriously, though, I really hope to see y'all soon. (is anything going on over the next couple of weeks/weekends?) I'm feeling a little insane... definitely craving alone time, but also craving time with the people I know and love, instead of with acquaintances who are nice enough people, but who sometimes annoy the shit out of me. I guess that's the defining factor for people who become my friends: I can only take so much contact with most people in this world before I want to stab them, but I never seem to reach that point with the people I love most. :)
current mood:  relieved
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(1 comment | comment on this)
skeets
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4:56a
OMGWTFTAISHAN
Holy balls. I climbed Mt. Taishan today, and it was HARD. I'd never have thought to do it, if Sifu hadn't suggested it, but on the other hand, I did make the decision to actually climb the stone steps, instead of taking it easy and riding the cable car. I feel pretty awesome for making it up the whole thing and not quitting, even as my knees and calves cried out in agony.
I figure videos are worth crossposting, so here are some! I probably sound exhausted and half-delirious in these... because I WAS exhausted and half-delirious. ;) This wasn't the idyllic, peaceful hike I expected it to be. There were probably hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people climbing this beast, but I made better time than a lot of them! I got two thumbs-up from some random old ladies at the top, too, heh.
The skin on the back of my neck that wasn't covered by my camera strap is a rather terrifying shade of crimson, but dude. So worth it.
I'm about 3/4ths of the way up in this one:
And here I am reaching the top:
current mood:  accomplished
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(2 comments | comment on this) Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
skeets
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2:27p
If you hadn't seen it on Facebook, yesterday was my last day of training. :( I'm leaving Beijing this morning, to go to Xi'an. I'm not sure where that is relative to Beijing, but it's a short flight. I'm also not sure what the internet situation will be, but hopefully I'll have it there, too.
I really miss you guys. I also miss Boy, and although I know he wouldn't have gotten 1/10th of what I'm getting out of this trip, I wish he were here.
I would also kill for the oatmeal-and-peanut-butter breakfast I eat at home. Chinese food is rad, yeah, but not the same.
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(3 comments | comment on this)
kitsileya
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10:12a
Christian Kane. Steve Carlson. *And* Jensen Ackles. Enough to send a fangirl to heaven.
So, E, B, and I went up to Portland on Sunday to hear Christian Kane in concert. We drove up in the afternoon, and had plenty of time to check in to our hotel before the concert. We went over to Dante's thinking we could get food there, but unfortunately the restaurant part of the business was closed so we ambled back a bit and ate pizza at Cap'n Alkeny's. Deep dish pizza - yum. L joined us there, as we'd managed to drag her away from work.
Just before 8p.m., we got in line for the show, and fortunately we were so far back in the line, there weren't any places to sit in the main room when we got in. I say fortunately, because we ended up snagging a table in the side room, and that led to fangirlish exuberance. But more on that later.
( At Dante's )
current mood:  excited
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(11 comments | comment on this)
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amused